Aerospace138 articles archived since 1845

Human Activity Will Heat Alaskan Skies—Deliberately and Picturesquely

This week powerful radio waves will disturb the ionosphere to probe satellite disruptions and create strange glows

Aviation in 1917: The State of the Industry and Science [Slide Show]

Race to Provide Commercial Weather Data Heats Up

A movement to privatize Earth-observing satellites is gaining ground

Exit Interview: Presidential Science Advisor John Holdren

Scientific American executive editor Fred Guterl talks with Pres. Obama’s science advisor, John Holdren, about climate science, space travel, the issue of reproducibility in science, the brain initiative and more...

Best Science Books of 2016

Barbara Kiser, books and arts editor at Nature, talks about her favorite science books of 2016, especially three works about the little-known history of women mathematicians.

How the Military Surveils Santa

In a Christmas tradition, the defense organization NORAD helps us keep track of Santa as he zips around the world delivering toys.

What Trump Will Mean for Air Travel

He hasn't said much, but his influence on the industry could be profound

Hurricane Matthew Monitors Fly into the Belly of the Beast

NOAA storm scientists describe their harrowing trips into a swirling chaos of rain, dust, salt and bacteria

Aviation Is First Global Industry to Limit Carbon Emissions

Gauntlet is now thrown down to maritime and land transportation

A War of Information, 1916

Reported in Scientific American, this Week in World War I: September 30, 1916

Air Traffic Control without Towers

Virtual towers located miles away from airports would be far more cost-efficient and—in principle, at least—just as safe

Rocket Launches Are Actually Surprisingly Successful

The recent SpaceX launchpad explosion is a reminder that rocketry is tricky, but also remarkable for accomplishing as much as it does

Aerial Combat, 1916

Reported in Scientific American, this Week in World War I: September 2, 1916

Aerial Resupply Invented, 1916

Reported in Scientific American, this Week in World War I: August 12, 1916

Glider Aims to Break World Record—and Boost Climate Science

Perlan mission will surf stratospheric waves and conduct atmospheric research

Aviator’s Dilemma: Pilots Encounter Illusions Everywhere

Military aviators learn to second-guess their senses

New Lab in Canada Simulates Air Travel from Start to Finish

It features a modular airplane cabin that will help engineers scientifically determine future layouts

Chinese Satellite Is 1 Giant Step for the Quantum Internet

Craft due to launch in August is first in a wave of planned quantum space experiments

Airplanes, Zeppelins and Balloons: Aviation Research in 1916

Curiosity Rover Stable after "Safe Mode" Glitch

Mission scientists are investigating what caused a suspension the Mars rover's activities on July 2